New Delhi:
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday condoled the death of Congress veteran VC Shukla, saying the nation will remember his contribution and pursuit of excellence in public life.
"A veteran Parliamentarian, able administrator and an outstanding statesman, Shri Shukla made valuable contribution to the growth of our nation in various capacities. The nation will remember his contributions and his pursuit of excellence in public life.
"I had a long personal association with Shri Shukla. In his death, I have lost a friend and the nation an eminent public figure," Mr Mukherjee said in his condolence message to Mr Shukla's wife Sarla.
84-year-old Mr Shukla, who suffered bullet injuries in the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh over a fortnight ago, died on Tuesday after multi-organ failure in a Gurgaon hospital.
The President said Mr Shukla, son of freedom fighter and first Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Pandit Ravishankar Shukla, had entered Parliament at a very early age and represented undivided Madhya Pradesh in Lok Sabha for a long period of time.
Mr Shukla served as Minister of State under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1967 to 1977 including as Minister of State with Independent Charge of Information and Broadcasting.
He also served as Cabinet Minister under Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao during 1991-96 in charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Irrigation, Mr Mukherjee mentioned in his message.